Blair sees party support slip to 19-year low

Tony Blair

LONDON - Support for British Prime Minister Tony Blair's ruling Labour party has fallen to a 19-year low ahead of local elections next month, according to a new poll.

Blair has faced a barrage of negative headlines for weeks over Labour's handling of the state-run healthcare system and his party's acceptance of loans from wealthy businessmen.

Since winning a third straight election last May, he has also been dogged by speculation over how long he will remain in power. His announcement in 2004 that he would not seek a fourth term led some to question his authority.

Labour is braced for losses in the May 4 elections in which more than 4000 council seats will be decided. The vote is widely seen as a test of Blair's authority.

The ICM survey for the Guardian newspaper put Labour's support at 32 per cent, 2 percentage points behind the main opposition Conservative Party and 5 points down from the last poll in March.

The Conservatives were unchanged on 34 per cent and the country's third-biggest party, the Liberal Democrats, were up three at 24, according to ICM.

The poll found Labour's support was at its lowest point since the 1987 election, when the party suffered a heavy defeat to the Conservatives under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Labour said last month it had received nearly 14 million pounds ($39.9 million) in loans from 12 businessmen, some of whom were later nominated for seats in the unelected upper house of parliament.

The party denied "selling" the peerages in the House of Lords and dismissed allegations from political opponents that donors' companies got favourable treatment in return for their support.

ICM polled 1006 adults by telephone between last Friday and Sunday.

- REUTERS